Picnic Pops brings new ways to experience orchestral music
The Grand Rapids Symphony’s summer outdoor concert series, Picnic Pops, starts this week with ABBA at Cannonsburg Ski Area, providing an event the whole family can enjoy.
July 13 through August 5 Grand Rapids Symphony’s D&W Fresh Market Picnic Pops features the summer series with Arrival from Sweden: The Music of ABBA, Brass Transit: The Music of Chicago, Women Rock: The Music of Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, and Aretha Franklin. The Classical Fireworks show is again returning, and Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan are performing, all at Cannonsburg Ski Area. All events, designed for the whole family to enjoy, are on Thursday and Friday evenings at 7:30, with doors opening at 5:45.
Every summer the Symphony brings professional guest artists to perform in Grand Rapids. This week’s guest artist, Arrival from Sweden, is performing music from ABBA on July 13 and 14. The group will be wearing the original ABBA costume. The line up features well known songs, including “Mamma Mia,” “Waterloo,” and “Fernando.”
Brass Transit, a music group from Canada, will perform music from Chicago on July 20 and 21. The group will sing classic favorites like “Hard to Say I’m Sorry,” “Colour My World,” and “25 Or 6 To 4.”
The all-woman show titled “Women Rock” is presenting an array of music from nine different female musicians, including Janis Joplin, Pat Benatar, and Aretha Franklin. The performance will start at 7:30 p.m. on July 27 and 28.
Tickets for the concerts are available individually, but there is a discount for purchasing all three together.
“If the three concerts appeal to you, save a few dollars and get a concert almost for free,” says Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk, the Grand Rapids Symphony’s Senior Manager of Communications and Media Relations.
The Grand Rapids Symphony’s Picnic Pops bring as many as 4,000 people to Cannonsburg Ski Area for every performance. This year the Grand Rapids Symphony is having five programs, two extending into August. Kaczmarczyk says three generations can be found at the grounds during any given concert date.
The Picnic Pops series has three seating choices: table seating, chair seating, and lawn seating. These choices give the listener the opportunity to create their own experience at the Grand Rapids Symphony’s Picnic Pops.
“However many times you may have heard a symphony orchestra on TV, or soundtracks to a movie, it’s still a different experience when you’re right there,” says Kaczmarczyk. “It sounds different; it looks different, you have the emotional experience with everybody around you.”
The gate opens at 5:45 each concert day and pre-concert entertainment includes a musical instrument petting zoo. The petting zoo gives kids a hands on opportunity to explore different orchestra instruments.
There is free parking available and concert attendees can bring their own food and drink, including alcoholic beverages.
“It’s really a fun relaxing evening. You don’t have to get dressed up,” says Kaczmarczyk. The large lawn sitting area is also used as a dancing space for those who are inspired.
The two August events include the classical fireworks on August 3 and Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán on August 5. Both performances will begin at 8 p.m.
“The orchestra is the show, but people don’t just come for the orchestra: they come for the whole experience,” says Kaczmarczyk.
The Grand Rapids Symphony’s new music director, Marcelo Lehninger, will be directing the Classical Fireworks.
“We want to introduce him to our picnic pops audience,” says Kaczmarczyk.
This annual performance presents classic favorites performed by the Symphony and concludes with a grand finale of fireworks.
Bob Bernhardt, principal pops director, is the primary artistic leader for the series. He will conduct this week’s program, “The Music of ABBA,” and next week’s program, “The Music of Chicago.” Both the Women Rock show and Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan will have guest conductors.
“For over 20 years,” says Kaczmarczyk, “this has been a West Michigan tradition that we have been really proud of.”
